Trying to lower your utility bills? Interested in reducing your carbon footprint? Hoping to simplify your life? This community is for you.

By Brian Winter, USA TODAY

States are slashing funds for environmental programs, threatening their ability to meet federal standards for clean air and water.

All but two states, Montana and North Dakota, have made significant cuts to initiatives ranging from toxic waste cleanup to sewage treatment, says Steve Brown, executive director for Environmental Council of the States, which unites state agencies.

The budget crunch is so severe that some states are struggling to implement and enforce new rules set by the Environmental Protection Agency. Brown cites a recent requirement for states to regulate waste discharges from more than 60,000 commercial ships that ply U.S. coastal waters.

"That's a huge undertaking ... and a lot of states are very nervous about how they're going to find the money for it," Brown says. He says states could also have difficulty enforcing an expected decision by the EPA to regulate carbon dioxide emissions.

Brown says he met with EPA officials last month to determine whether federal grants or other measures could help close the gap.

"We're all still pretty much in a head-scratching mode about what to do," he says.

The cuts could pose a significant risk to public health, says Elgie Holstein of the Environmental Defense Fund, a non-profit group. "These programs are often the difference between drinking clean or dirty water, or breathing clean or dirty air."

State officials are finding it easier to cut environmental initiatives than funds for schools or hospitals, says Barry Rabe, a political science professor at the University of Michigan. Among the cuts:

•Pennsylvania has cut state funding for its Department of Environmental Protection by 30%. A $15 million energy efficiency grant program for homes and businesses was among the cuts.

To report corrections and clarifications, contact Reader Editor Brent Jones. For publication consideration in the newspaper, send comments to letters@usatoday.com. Include name, phone number, city and state for verification. To view our corrections, go to corrections.usatoday.com.

Guidelines: You share in the USA TODAY community, so please keep your comments smart and civil. Don't attack other readers personally, and keep your language decent. Use the "Report Abuse" button to make a difference. Read more.